Friday, June 29, 2012

The children of Orphanage 9 are so precious! There is a blog blitz today to give these kids a bit of exposure, as they are all so deserving of a real family! Two of them, Camille and Tina, are up there on my tabs.

Please click on the photos or the names of the children for more information.

A little more about Steven, from one of the adoptive moms who met him this week:

This little man will make any Mama weak in the knees! He has won my heart and I hope he will win yours too! Oh how I adore him! I cannot say enough wonderful things about this young man. He truly is a little man of character. He has the eyes and heart of a true man after Gods heart. He sees the needs of others before his own and is quick to help when others are per-occupied with their own desires. We walked past a swing that was swinging when he was holding my hand, he knew there were other little ones behind us and he stopped the swing so it didn’t hit the others. We go to his childrens home early in the morning so I bring my coffee. Gotta have my coffee! The kids light up when they see coffee! LOL! Anyhow my coffee cup was empty but the little ones in his group saw my coffee cup and started moving towards it and he ran to my cup first and gave it to me in order to make sure they did not get it when he saw they spotted the cup. Taylor lost her hair ribbon on two occasions and he ran and brought her bow back to her while the others stepped on it. He wants a Mama and Papa so badly. He calls Joe and I Mama and Papa and he lights up when he sees us with a big grin and wave and so longs for me to hug him. He will be a Mama’s boy! He has the most precious smile and adorable giggle and shows clearly that he can attach. It is clear by his actions he so longs to be loved and have a family of his own and he will love back with everything he is. His heart is on his sleeve to serve others. Oh how he deserves the love of a father and mother!

He plays well with the kids and if there is a fight over a toy he mutters a few words looking very sad and backs away and does not battle for it. He loves my teenage son and shows no issues of not being able to function in a family environment. If he is doing something the teachers are concerned he will get hurt doing he will listen when they talk to him. He is a very good listener and responds without complaint.

The school staff stated that he is a good boy and does not cause issues. He is a joy and a love and I so want to see him in a family where he can flourish and grow! He so deserves it with his amazing servants heart. Wise beyond his years!

Seven precious children of God, seven beautiful souls who are deserving of a family to call their own. Please consider one of the children of Orphanage 9! I can put you in contact with the mother, above, who has gotten to know the children and the staff.

Pray that their moms or dads will see them today and fall completely in love. Share this link with others. It's the best way to help save these little ones.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

I am thrilled to announce that TWO more children on my tabs have found families!

First, sweet Emilio is going to have a family!Hooray! I love that little cutie.

And, just today, we all saw that our beloved Simeon has also found a family!

May God bless them both, and may we now find families for the sweet boys, below, who will replace them on my tabs.

First, there is Grant, who has Down Syndrome. This adorable boy is healthy, and he runs, jumps and plays happily like any seven-year-old should! But unfortunately, he has already been transferred to the institution. Save him, someone!

I'm Grant! Are you my mommy?

Then there is Jake! Sweet Jake had some birth trauma that has left him with special needs. He deserves a loving family to help him reach his potential! Look at this angel:

Waiting for my mom and dad to hug and squeeze me!

Okay, let's make these boys "ex-tabs" as well!

In other orphan news, beautiful Jack has lost two families who were committed or wanted to commit to him -- lost through no fault of either Jack or the families.

Still needs a family to come!

He is sooooo wanting to be a part of a family! My friend Daneille, at The Wonder of Boys, is running a fundraiser for Jack that ends on June 30! Please, consider throwing a couple of bucks his way, or at least go check it out. His case is desperate.

And, please don't forget the special news regarding the iPad giveaway for Ava and the older child they hope to commit to! I can't wait to announce who it is (neither can they!). Meanwhile, they are just $30 shy of reaching the first thousand dollars of their goal. Will you be that special person who gets them to $1,000? Go here to donate (or even just to share and get an entry!):

(I love the reason behind the potential name change, and you will, too!)

And a note: I have put an Amazon link at the bottom of this blog. If you do your Amazon shopping through this link, 100% of my commission goes to the orphans and the families bringing them home. It costs you nothing and the orphans get it all! :)

Monday, June 25, 2012

This is a Monday blog blitz for Porter, a sweet boy who is HIV+ and was very recently transferred from a good baby house to one of the most horrific places that even an adult could imagine. He must be totally traumatized at the change, and so several bloggers are trying to give him as much exposure as we can so that he can get out of that institution as quickly as possible.

Here is six-year-old Porter, from his profile (picture taken when he was younger):

Here are some photos that we are almost sure is Porter (in gray shirt), taken just months ago when he was still at his baby house:

As you can see, he is able to use his hands normally, and does not seem terribly delayed.

But those were better days for Porter, and now his existence is among the Lost Boys in an place unthinkable for a child. I believe that only two children have ever been adopted from the Lost Boys' institution, and the first boy's mother wrote a series of posts (with photos) about what it's like there. These posts will change you forever; I was riveted and could not stop reading last night. Start from the bottom and go up:

Watch this video, below, of Porter dancing joyfully at his baby house. Then picture this same child in the horrible, hopeless institution where he has just been transferred. Ladies, show your husbands the video and then have them read the Lost Boy posts. It will melt the heart of any reluctant man.

Only Porter, Heath and Hanson are available for adoption from the Lost Boys' institution. We must find them a way out. Heath has already been there for years. He has over $9,000 available in his grant, and still no one has come for him. Hanson's grant is over $2,000 now, just like Porter's!

Please, please, don't forget the Lost Boys, and please, someone rescue the ones that can still be saved.

And please visit The Wonder of Boys blog for links to all those who posted about Porter today, on this "Monday for Porter" blog blast! We will get that boy out of there and into a proper family!

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It's hard to switch gears after that, but I want to let you know about a fabulous giveaway that made my head turn:

Meet Gabby, the little girl that Sylvia and her husband adopted a year and a half ago:

This sweet angel used to live in an Eastern European orphanage!

And, meet Ava, who was Gabby's cribmate, and who is still in that same orphanage. She is soon to be Gabby's real life sister:

Pretty Ava will soon be an orphan no more!

You may have read previously that Sylvia has initiated another fundraiser, an iPad giveaway (or $500 cash) and other great prizes as well. There is more excitement this time around, as the family is trying to raise enough funds to cover the facilitation costs of bringing home yet another orphan on the same trip! An older orphan, one who has already been sent to the mental institution and is all but forgotten.

Well, something amazing happened after a reader saw that post. A woman who wishes to remain anonymous, and whom neither Sylvia nor I had ever "met", sent Sylvia an email:

"I am so impressed by you and your family that I will commit to add an additional $1,000 to your fund if you can raise the $2,500 you are seeking through your fundraiser by July 31 and you commit to an older child (any child age 5+ on RR). If for some reason I make the donation and your older child adoption falls through (I know things happen beyond your control), I would just respectfully ask that you pay that donation forward to another family that is adopting a child age 5 or older."

What a blessing from Heaven! Suddenly, what had been a mere hope of saving an older orphan has become a very real possibility! An older, desperate child may actually soon join this beautiful family, along with Ava:

Room for two more!

Our job is to help Sylvia raise that $2,500 that she needs, so that this wonderful donor will add $1,000 more. The donor, like so many of you, has a heart for those older, nearly forgotten children -- the ones who have almost no hope of finding a family -- and she is doing something about it.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

There is a wonderful RR facebook page that provides much information, advocacy, and general love for the orphans. Some orphans on RR are better known and championed than others, which is to be expected.

So, I thought I would put a little face out there who doesn't get much "air time". Two-year-old Hayley:

She is so beautiful. Surely someone will want her?

And since I am profiling the "lesser-knowns", let me put Vlad's face out there again, in case his future mama is reading:

Click here for a link to all the HIV+ children who are age 10 or over (it's not an overwhelming number, I promise). They have no future in their own countries; their lives will be bleak once they age out of the orphanages, to say the least. It is imperative that they find homes in America. One of those desperate for a home is this beauty, Marjorie:

Click the photo for more info on Marjorie

If you are afraid of adopting an older child with HIV, please, I beg you to read this story, written just days ago. You will be filled with joy, I promise:

Friday, June 15, 2012

Yet another orphan from the tabs at the top of this blog has found a family! That makes ten! Dear, sweet Declan is going to be adopted by a wonderful mommy and daddy, and he has been happily kicked off my tabs just as Laurel, Justin, Lizzy, Natalie, Nadine, Masha, Felicia, Delilah, and Stefan before him!

Mom and Dad are coming, Declan!

I need a mama!

To replace Declan on the tabs, I have chosen a child who just pulverizes my heart every time I look at him or think of him. Precious Aiden, who is blind and is always left in a crib:

Precious boy!

From a volunteer who spent several months at the orphanage:

When I first met Aiden he was able to walk around the edges of the crib holding on to the sides, but he would not walk independently, even while holding on to someone's hands. As I worked with him however and he grew to trust me he began to take his first steps and now he loves to walk! Still, at least while I was there, the workers never let him out of his playpen."

Can you imagine how well Aiden would do in a real family, with proper medical care, love and attention? This little one is precious! Please don't forget him!

"I'm doing a giveaway on my blog for Stella. Would you mind posting it on this blog? Thank you! People don't even have to donate money to enter, if they just write a blog post or FB post then they're entered to win a $100 JCrew gift card."

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Stefan, who was on my original tabs at the top of this blog, has been moved to the "My Family Found Me" page! He has been adopted domestically, and will stay in his own home country!

Stefan has a family!!

Praise God for another "orphan no more"!

Nine children have (praise God!) been removed from the tabs above, and today I choose a new orphan to place on my tabs: sweet Holly, who has Down Syndrome:

Three-year-old Holly is outgoing and a giggler!

I have a dear friend who fell in love with Holly and wants nothing more than to adopt her; however, it's not possible at this time. In honor of my friend, I am placing Holly on my tabs, in hopes that her future parents happen upon her beautiful face and realize that they cannot live without her!

Holly has a sizeable grant (over $2500 to be used towards her adoption), and she is available to older parents and single moms. Please click the photo for more information on this precious girl.

And as always, spread the word! :)

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And, only one more day to enter the iPad giveaway to reunite Gabby and Ava, two orphanage cribmates! Go here for the details!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Lynn Huggins Spivey, a warrior for the orphans and a soon-to-be adoptive mom, is celebrating a birthday today! To honor this wonderful lady's birthday wish, I want to share the children of Orphanage 42.

First, there is sweet Simeon, whom I've profiled before and who's set to be transferred to the institution:

Thursday, June 7, 2012

About a week ago, we shaved our son's head. I'd never seen him with hair that short, and when I looked at the finished result, I gasped and my heart felt heavy. It's a weird reaction to a haircut, unless one has been looking at orphans' photos for months. You see, suddenly he looked exactly like the older boy orphans on Reece's Rainbow. In particular, he reminded me of Parker:

Parker is seven years old

With the slight build, dark skin, and dark eyes, Parker and my son could easily pass for brothers. I know, from real life experience, how handsome Parker would be with longer hair and a big smile. I can see it. And I know that he's just like every other little boy. Or, he should be just like every other little boy.

My heart breaks for Parker. There, but for the grace of God, goes my own son.

Please, will you spread the word about Parker? He has only moderate delays and will surely thrive in a family! He only has $26 in his account, and I fear he is all but forgotten. Please, don't forget about Parker. His family is out there somewhere, I just know it.

In case you were wondering, this is my own son:

Now you know why Parker affects me so much.

Please, let's find his family.

See the "recommend" button just below? Could you click it? If you do, Parker is that much closer to finding a home and a family.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Brady Murray is poised to something amazing for Reece's Rainbow exposure and help for orphans with Down Syndrome! Read about it, and then click the short video to help him to the Ironman World Championship in October!

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My family and I have loved being able to work on behalf of the children on Reece's Rainbow since finding this great organization. It's for this reason that I had a hard time sleeping because of the excitement after hearing about this announcement!

Two months ago, Ironman announced a contest called Kona Inspired. How it works is they have given the general public an opportunity to submit a 90 second video based around the theme, "Anything is Possible". Winners receive a spot to race in the Ironman World Championship in October, but most importantly, they will race as a media athlete and have the opportunity to share their story on NBC's nationally televised broadcast of the championship this year! THIS COULD BE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN'S STORY WITH THE WORLD!!!

After reading Ironman's press release we immediately went to work. This is an opportunity to help these children in a way that I never imagined possible! The video came together with the help of many wonderful people and we submitted it. 105 videos were submitted. After over a month long preliminary public voting, we just received word that we are one of the top 15 videos and will compete in the final round of voting June 4 - June 18!!!

Please take a moment to WATCH, VOTE, and SHARE our video as much as possible throughout the day from your home computer, work computer, laptop, phone, etc! We need to be in the top 2 videos at the end of the day on June 18.

Click through the photo album on the page and you'll see all the offerings! I put in a couple of items myself, and I also plan to bid on a few!

I love all the items, but regarding the Seraphym rosary… oh my gosh. You guys, I have seen this rosary in person. It is about a hundred times more beautiful than the picture shows. Also, it is made by the same woman who made one of Mother Angelica's rosaries. Truly a classic.

The auction runs for two days, so get started! The bidding is already frenzied, and I've barely awakened!

PS: I'll be counting my loose change today, that we've collected for Asa! How about you?

100% of Amazon commission goes to the orphans!

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About me

I'm Leila Miller, a Catholic wife and mother of eight with a passion for truth, goodness, and beauty. Doing what I can with a keyboard.

Why a second blog?

Many of you know me from my "other blog" --Little Catholic Bubble -- and you know that my heart has been captivated by the orphans I have seen on Reece's Rainbow. I wanted a place for my thoughts, as well as a way to advocate for these precious children. Exposure is the only way that these little ones will find their forever families. The more people know about their existence and needs, the more hope for their futures.